Everlasting Promise

March 23, 2025 Isaiah 55:1-9 3rd Sunday of Lent Everlasting Promise Year C “Curiosity” Lent Three Prelude Welcome and Announcements Over the Threshold. (Call to Worship and Opening Prayer) Leader: The 13th century Christian mystic, Meister Eckhart, said this: “Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” Sing Verse 1 of Open My Eyes That I May See UMH 454 As we continue our worship series this Lent and consider what it means to be a “purveyor of awe,” we focus on one of the most important elements for curating a life of spiritual depth: curiosity. The ancient poets of our faith and the mystics of old wrote prolifically about “seeking” as a spiritual attribute. Faith is not about certainties; instead, it is about taking the stance of humility that we cannot know everything and that the spiritual quest is what it means to be faithful: to be on a quest to discover more and to experience more of the holy in our lives. In a time when so much emphasis is on what we know, we remember in our Lent journey that it is what we don’t know that is most valuable, for discovery and staying curious is a condition for awe. Sing Verse 2 of Open My Eyes That I May See UMH 454 The element of curiosity is linked to wellbeing of all kinds–spiritually, mentally, creatively. Awe-filled experiences are curiosity-boosters. Play, imagination, experimentation, and even simply slowing down to “linger longer” as we engage with the sights and sounds and smells of our ordinary surroundings can add to the amount of awe in our lives. Curiosity resists easy labeling and classifying; rather, it invites us to deeper discovery about life, faith, and each other. Let us rise in body and/or spirit and pray: Awe-inspiring God, we come together this day because we need to be reminded to see through the lens of curiosity. Too often we focus on being right instead of being curious, and this closes the door to deeper relationship and understanding. Open us to perceive anew. Inspire us to receive our surroundings with awe. Forgive us when we allow fear to curb our quest for greater understanding. Be with us on this journey as we seek again to marvel at your works. Sing Verse 3 of Open My Eyes That I May See UMH 454 [fade into silence… after a time, the leader speaks softly into the silence] The path is ever unfolding before us. We are invited into the seeker’s journey at any moment. God forgives us. Jesus embraces us. The Spirit enlivens us. We are whole. With awe, we accept this belovedness. And all God’s people say, “Amen.” Opening Hymn/Song I’ll Fly Away TFWS 2282 In Awe of Children Eat What Is Good By Lois Parker Edstrom Suggestions: Display various foods as a part of the lesson and allow the children taste, if appropriate to your situation. What are your favorite foods? Pizza? Hamburgers? Ice cream? Chocolate pudding? Cookies? These foods are fun to eat and it’s okay to enjoy them once in a while, but our food choices should also include lots of fruits and vegetables, milk and yogurt, good cereals and breads. Have you ever tried a peanut butter and banana sandwich, sweet potato chips, or a crisp, juicy apple with a wedge of cheese? Delicious!! There are so many tasty foods to enjoy. The prophet, Isaiah in the Bible speaks about God’s message and it is this: “Listen diligently (carefully) to me, and eat… that which is good” (55:2). God is not speaking about food, but about his words of wisdom. As we read the Bible and spend quiet time praying and thinking about God, we learn God’s lessons. We learn about good choices, such as how to honor God, how to respect ourselves, how to treat others with kindness. We learn about things that help us have a good life. God’s ways are good ways. They help you become a loving, thoughtful, and healthy person. God says, “Listen diligently to me, and eat…that which is good…” Eat good food and fill your hearts with the goodness of God’s words. Scripture quotations from the World English Bible Copyright 2012, Richard Niell Donovan Prayer of Confession God, you call us to step more deeply into ourselves as we amend and awaken to who you desire us to be. Let us acknowledge our transgressions in stillness and in silence So that may prepare our hearts for change. Moment of silence We confess that we have not always brought forth good fruit. In the midst of chaos and frenzy, we have often lost our way. Our feet have strayed from the place where we met you. Our egos have kept us from noticing our missteps; Yet, with you, we know there’s another chance for change. There is another opportunity to bear good fruit In a world full of spoiled and rotten produce and systems designed to kill, We are called to be the change that sustains generations. Let us lean with you into this chance for transformation. Words of Assurance God’s grace and mercy abounds. God is with us in the change. God’s everlasting arms embrace us. Each of us is beloved, affirmed, and set free. Amen. Adapted from Rev. Mia M. McClain on the Worship Ways site of the United Church of Christ, https://www.ucc.org/worship-way/lent-3c-march-20-2022/. The Peace The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. I invite you to share the peace of Christ with those around you, [remembering to greet those online with a wave to the camera]. Contemporary Reading Reader: Our first reading is a contemporary one–an excerpt from Scott Shigeoka, author of Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World: “We need to embrace what I call ‘deep curiosity.’ This is the kind of curiosity that invites us to use it as a force for meaningful connection and transformation. This is what strengthens our relationships to ourselves and each other.” Ancient Reading (Scripture) Isaiah 55:1-9 In Awe of Music ” In Awe of the Word (Sermon) Everlasting Promise My Lenten practice has been paying attention to the ways that the spirit is at work in my life. When you seek God, you can witness the mysterious ways in which God works in our lives. So Friday I had lunch with a former parishioner who has since become a local pastor. She has asked me to lunch for the last 4 years, I have been hesitant about driving down I 57 to meet her. This year, I decided that it was finally time. I must say that I was refreshed in our meeting, the lunch was not only physically nourishing, but my spirit was also nourished in our conversation. In returning from Hazel Crest, I decided to take 30 in order to get back home. While driving through New Lenox I remembered that I had not been AMC to see a movie in a while. There is a new movie about the Last Supper that just came out. Not knowing what time the move would start, I just stopped by. I parked in the parking lot at 3:04. I checked my phone and the movie started at 3:15. I took that as my cue that God has planned this trip and intended for me to stop and see the movie all along. That’s my justification and I am sticking to it. Turns out, the movie was just one step above really bad. You can’t go wrong in telling the story of salvation. I always get something from any movie about Jesus’ life. But most of them have canned dialogue where the actors are just reciting verses from the bible. And in this one, all of the actors wore wigs. And apparently, the director wanted to demonstrate that combs did not exist in the first century, because all of the wigs were messy and unkempt. Overall, I wouldn’t say that the movie was a waste of time. But my spiritual message came after the movie was over. They explained that this movie was an invitation for anyone and everyone to know Jesus. As they were explaining why they were extending an invitation, I felt that the spirit was extending an invitation to me as well. In this Lenten season, I was invited to go deeper in my understanding of God. The think about my calling, and to be open to next steps in my ministry. The Invitation Since the period of the Israelites, The Invitation has been offered down through the centuries to those seeking to find the way: from prophets to peasants — from Paul to Priscilla — from mothers to monks — from Augustine to Wesley — from Billy Sunday to Billy Graham. Many servant followers have been the mouthpiece of The Invitation. Some have accepted The Invitation; others have rejected it. But The Invitation always stands, for it is the greatest invitation ever given to humankind. Let me share with you for whom The Invitation is intended. The Invitation is for all who have been searching for meaning and fulfillment but have never found it. The Invitation is for those who have always desired so much more out of life. The Invitation is for those who feel empty, lost, and without hope. The Invitation is for those who continue to thirst and hunger for ultimate satisfaction. The Invitation is for those who have ever cried out, “What is the point of my life? Is there more to life than carpools, meetings, paying bills, and growing old?” For God’s invitation is to experience an abundant life — the kind of life which only God can provide. And The Invitation is officially extended to you today. So the question is: What will you do with The Invitation? Jesus wants to be your teacher. Come, sit at his feet, and learn. ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Leonard Sweet Sermons, by Leonard Sweet The more we “know,” the more embarrassingly obvious it becomes how much we have to learn. The big island of Hawaii is actually getting bigger. Its two active volcanoes keep spewing out lava flows, both building up more elevation and landmass, and flowing out into the surrounding sea. The more “island” there is, the more shoreline is created. Learning is like that growing island. The more “knowledge” we amass, the more new, unexplored edges of understanding are revealed. Jesus didn’t choose a bunch of “know-it-alls,” super-smarty scholars, as his companions. Jesus was a teacher. Those he called were his “disciples.” Another word for “disciple” (mathetes) is “learner.” When Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples he didn’t tell them to go be “teachers.” He called them to claim their status as life-long learners and to pass that love for learning along to the world: “Go therefore and make ‘disciples’ of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Leonard Sweet Sermons, by Leonard Sweet Interestingly, in the movie, Jesus was not the main character. His disciple Peter was the main character. You got to watch Peter transform from a very confused disciple to a true fisher of men. The hook of the movie was that it ended in the book of Acts, when Peter was able to draw just as large of crowds as Jesus to show them how the spirit of God was working in their lives and in the world. Just as many people found salvation in Peter’s word as they found in Jesus’s words. The season of lent is our invitation to come, to listen, to hear, to live to love God, others and ourselves. During lent we are reminded of the promises of God and the covenant of God to be with us throughout life. A covenant is always a relationship of give and take. God reminds us of Gods promises, we are also encouraged to seek God. Our scripture in Isaiah is intended to be a very special invitation to experience life with all of its ups and downs with God by our side. Isaiah 55 is a series of promises and covenants. -13 - the promise of blessing • Just as rain and snow are given to bring life, growth, and wholeness, so too will God’s word bring life, growth and wholeness to the earth • God’s word will make you prosper - perhaps whether you want it to or not • All of creation will rejoice with Israel whose judgment (the exile) has come to an end. When you repent/turn back to God, the response - not only of God, but all creation - is joy! In return you have to seek God in all that you do. Isaiah tells us that the invitation for us is to come, hear, listen, and join. The first words of todays scripture Come I remember one time I was walking along Times Square in New York, and I passed a little bar that had a sign hanging outside which read: "Come on in. There is never any dull lull in here." Well, that was quite a claim. I thought I ought to investigate, so I went in. What did I see? A picture of human happiness? The customers were sitting along on the bar stools staring at themselves in the bar mirror with obvious distaste. The bartenders were looking back at them with the same expression. If that wasn’t a dull lull, then I don’t know what a dull lull is. I wonder sometimes with the millions of bar stools in the country whether anyone has ever found happiness on one of them. Our problem is to take life seriously, to be able to believe the primary fact that our lives have meaning and purpose, that there is a reason for living. As a matter of fact, when you think about it invitations are all around us – we are always being invited to join something, or to get involved in something, or to go somewhere, or to eat something. How many invitations do you receive in a day – not just from people, but from television commercials, from advertisements, from well meaning salesmen, from emails, from social media – from countless avenues. We are convinced that we cannot live without these invitations. In fact, some are so convinced that they pray each night before they go to bed: Now I lay me down to sleep I pray my Cuisinart to keep I pray my stocks are on the rise And that my analyst is wise That all the wine I sip is white And that my hot tub’s watertight That racquetball won’t get too tough That all my sushi’s fresh enough I pray my cell phone still works That my career won’t lose its perks My microwave won’t radiate My condo won’t depreciate I pray my health club doesn’t close And that my money market grows If I go broke before I wake I pray my Lexus they won’t take.[2] 2. Poem by Laura Goethel. And have you noticed that each invitation also comes with a promise, that if you accept it it will be well worth your while. But have you noticed that most of these promises, turn out to be hollow. Once we accept an invitation, that just opens to doors to more invitations. Once we think we will be happy and satisfied after that invitation – we are hungry again and we want more. It is in our DNA – to be hungry, to want more, once we are full, it doesn’t last forever, and we want more and more. Eating and drinking are a never-ending necessity to live. A meal lasts for only a few hours. When firstborn, a baby cries for something to eat. We continue the practice of eating three times a day until our final day. From the cradle to the grave, we continue to take nourishment in order to live. There is nothing with being hungry, with wanting more, with needing to fill up when we feel empty. The key is for us to be mindful about our hunger, to keep our hungers in balance and to be aware when we have had enough. Most importantly, we have to keep God in mind in the midst of our nourishment. When we are seeking to be fulfilled, we have to remember that God is by our side. God promised to provide for us, and that all that we receive is a gift from God. Isaiah’s warning to us is to remember that our ways are not God ways. And that we should lean on God’s ways and not ours. Jason DeSilva, who is a pastor reminds us that it is in our nature to be seekers, to want more. But in our seeking, we should be aware of the spirit that beckons us to seek spiritual nourishment along with our physical nourishment. God is giving us an invitaion to eat spiritual food and drink spiritual water. In our text, the word, "come," is used several times. "Come" is God’s favorite word. It is an invitation and not a draft. With one having all power, God could force us to eat his bread, but God knows you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. God refuses to force us to come to him. He wants only willing children. His intention was expressed when his Son said, "Come to me all who labor What can fill us with good things, good thoughts, and good feelings? Our text says, "Hear that your soul may live." Hear the Word of God that tells us good things. You are loved. You are precious enough for God to die for you. You are a child of God destined for eternal life. Hear the good news and your mind and heart will be filled with the fullness of God. Do you ask, "Where can I hear the Word?" Go this Sunday to a church school and you will hear the Word taught. Attend worship services at your local church and you will hear the Word preached. Take some time daily to open the Bible and you will hear the Word by reading it. In prayer, God will speak his Word to your heart. WHY DO YOU SPEND ... YOUR LABOR FOR THAT WHICH DOES NOT SATISFY?" A woman in our parish referred a lady to me for consultation, and the parishioner said of her friend: "I don’t know what her problem is. She has a very successful husband. She is certainly a success at everything she tries herself. I really can’t understand what her difficulty is." But when the lady came in, she placed her finger precisely on her problem, as she said to me: "You know, it seems that nothing I do feels important." You see, she was identifying her problem. She said: "I try to do things, and I’m successful at them, but somehow, I always end up by asking myself, ‘What’s the use?’ " Her self-diagnosis was correct. She had identified not only her problem, but the pressing problem of our day. Success in life is not our chief concern. Actually, when you get down to cases, it’s not very difficult to be a success in our society today. With average intelligence and a bit of honest application, we can be a success in almost any reasonable type of enterprise. Her problem and ours is not success but significance The prophet Isaiah has proclaimed that God's Word never returns empty. The ripple effect from Allison's invitation is eternal in nature, singing on and on. Because of the power of God's Word, Allison's influence will never end. Take heart when you share your own faith stories of how God has touched your lives. They, as well, are timeless and eternal. Invite your friends to worship, to Bible studies, even to social events at church. You will never know all the lives you influence, the lives God has placed into your capable hands. May your voices also sing on, throughout eternity, or in the words of the prophet Isaiah, "It shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." You are an invaluable part of the very creation that proclaims the love and grace of God. You also proclaim God's message by the way you treat others, the kind and uplifting words you speak, your stewardship of possessions, and your actions, which speak loudest of all. Psychologist Murray Banks tells us that old age, if you want to talk about old age, physically, really sets in about the age twenty-eight, because that’s when the body begins to disintegrate and deteriorate. But creative love, and real life surge of productivity, is not fully developed until we are about forty. For instance, artists do their best work at the age of fifty or over. Surgeons do their best work at fifty-four. Attorneys are best equipped at fifty-seven to be the most productive and of the greatest service. And yet, at this age, many men are considering retirement. CSS Publishing Co., Inc., His Hands, by Jon L. Joyce The words of the old testament are not always good news, but today – These words of Isaiah are good news for us – they are a message that God is making the promise to all people in all situations. God’s promises are ever lasting and will never expire. This is one invitation that will not expire and will always apply. God’s words never returns void – it always beings hope and peace. It is an invitation to you will never regret taking. Isaiah issues a four-part injunction to the people of Judah to return to God, to renounce their iniquities, and to reaffirm the promises of the Davidic Covenant: come (55:1), listen (55:2), seek, and call on God while he is near and can be found (55:6). This plea is pertinent to Christians during this season of Lent, a season of exile and return, renewal and restoration, affliction and comfort, and death and resurrection. Father John Powell has said: "God does not create in order to acquire something, but in order to give something, to share Himself, in other words, to love. And God, whose very nature is love is, obviously, the model of our love." The crusty old sports announcer, Red Barber, once said: "When I boil down thirty years of experience in interviewing people on the radio and television and put it into one word, I would have to say that the Greeks have a word for it, ‘agape.’ " Agape means, broadly, "to have concern for." To use Michener’s phrase: "There is no real coming home to oneself until our goals and our motives are rooted in unselfish love in agape. This is our reason for being. This is our reason for doing. This is our reason for living." Take account of the number of invitations that you receive in the coming week. How many of those invitations are from God and how many are from the world? What hunger does is fulfilled in accepting that invitation? May we all have a hunger for seeking God, for listening, for accepting the love of God and passing it on. Let us pray to seek God in all that we do. Let us pray……. Song You Satisfy the Hungry Heart UMH 629 Approaching an Awesome God [Prayers] Holy and Living God, we approach this time of prayer with curiosity about your world. With all our senses, we open to you. Give us lenses of awe with which to perceive and love others as you perceive and love us. We imagine in our mind’s eye now the people in our lives, the people of our communities, and the people of our world. Each of them is beloved by you, and this alone creates awe in us. We especially lift up those who need our prayers in this moment… [continue with prayers of thanksgiving and care for people]. For all these people and those we name in our hearts, Hear our prayer, Awesome God. Give us lenses of awe with which to perceive and love your creation as you perceive and love it. Each strange and new species, each surprising wild flower, each ant carrying a load ten times its weight reminds us that our curiosity is fed in so many ways. You are making all things new all around us. Help us to care for the nature around us. This week, we name… [continue with prayers about specific entities of nature in your area]. For all these places, creatures, and lifeforms, and those we name in our hearts, Hear our prayer, Awesome God. Give us lenses of awe with which to perceive and love life as you perceive and love the life you have given us. Open us to greet each new day as if there is something new to learn and experience so that we might stay curious and love discovery along this journey. Slow us down in this season of Lent so that we might savor anew the gift of life. We pause in this silence, setting intentions of awe for the week ahead. [pause in silence] For all these intentions, Hear our prayer, Awesome God. Let us pray the prayer Jesus taught us… Lord’s Prayer Responding with Awe (Stewardship Moment) Moment for Stewardship (Bring with you a nearly dead houseplant and a flourishing houseplant or use pictures on your screens.) Jesus tells parables throughout the Gospels. The parable of the fig tree, in Luke, gives us a picture for this stewardship moment. It’s as though the man who planted the fig tree realized it wasn’t doing well, and was not bearing fruit; a bit like this houseplant. (Show the nearly dead plant!) Imagine this plant – and the fig tree — as symbols of church members who occasionally come to worship, but never give financially, never share their talents, or never offer time to engage in outreach or do basic work around the building. Any wonder the owner is ready to toss out the tree? Any wonder some of us can imagine God, ready to toss out those who never give of themselves or their resources? As we come to our time of receiving all we are prepared to give, let’s hear the appeal of the gardener (which we might consider to be Jesus): “Let me work with it for a year, and then decide.” For those who have ears…and eyes…see the beauty of a robust and healthy plant. (Show the healthy plant!) With your gifts today, may your life shine like the cared-for plant! Offering/Offertory [as is your custom] Doxology [Tune: Old 100th] Praise God, Creator of us all, Praise Christ, by whom we hear our call, Praise Spirit, that which sets us free, Our awe is yours, the One-in-Three. Prayer of Thanksgiving For all that has been given this day, we give you thanks, Generous God. For the ways you are working with each of us through your Spirit, through this congregation, and through the parables of Jesus, thank you. Receive these gifts and the commitments we make to share not only our treasure, but our time and our talents, as offerings of our lives. In Jesus’ name, AMEN. (Disciples of Christ, Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements We Go Forth with Awe (Closing Prayer for Facebook) Benedictions are blessings. And blessings are all around us. So for this season, instead of bowing your head as I offer a Benediction blessing, I invite you to open your palms in a position of receiving, and hold your head high, imagining a radiant stream of light from above shining upon you and everything else around you. And this week when you need to be reminded to be curious and open to discovery, take this stance again. Open your palms to receive, look around to perceive, and notice one small thing that can light up your heart for a moment. And now may you go forth remembering Meister Eckhart’s words: “Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” Be a purveyor of awe this week. Inspire others with your insatiable desire to know them beyond the surface. Know that the reward of awe is yours as you invite curiosity to live and breathe new life in you. Be a “purveyor of awe,” curating a life of spiritual depth that inspires others to join you on the journey. May the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of Awe, the Holy One-in-Three, be with you now and throughout these days, Amen. Community Time (Joys and Concerns) Benediction May God bless you with the hope to cling to God, knowing that in the highs and lows, the joys and the sorrows, the known and unknown of this life, God’s love never fails. Thanks be to God! Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, September 2024. Postlude Worship Notes Contemporary reading excerpted from the following source: Shigeoka, S. (2023). Seek: How curiosity can transform your life and change the world. Hachette Book Group. Additional Illustrations Many people live in the illusion that they cannot live without more. And as long as there is money to be made from gullible consumers, our culture will continue to accommodate and perpetuate this illusion by inviting us to have more, purchase more, and obtain more. We have been convinced that the more we have, the happier we are. But you and I know this is one of the greatest delusions humankind has ever produced. For many people are making a good living but living poor lives. There are many people who have much but love little. There are many people who look slick, and appear to have everything they desire, but inside they are decaying and rotting because they have been sold a bill of goods that “more will make them happier.” But no matter the invitations we have received in the past, there is nothing big enough, powerful enough, thrilling enough, or pleasurable enough to satisfy our deepest thirst and hunger. Need examples? Consider Howard Hughes. All he ever wanted was more money, so he parlayed inherited wealth into a billion-dollar pile of assets. All he wanted was more fame, so he invaded the Hollywood scene and became a filmmaker and star. All he wanted was more sensual pleasures, so he paid handsome sums to try to satisfy his every sexual urge. All he wanted was more thrills, so he built and piloted the fastest aircraft ever known. All he wanted was more power, so, in secret, he dealt political favors so masterfully that two U.S. presidents became his pawns. All he ever wanted was more and more and more. He was absolutely convinced that more would bring him complete satisfaction. Unfortunately, history proves otherwise. In his final years, he was emaciated, colorless, and had a sunken chest. His fingernails had grown into inches-long corkscrews. His teeth were rotting, and all over his body were innumerable needle marks from his drug addiction. “Howard Hughes died believing the myth of more. He died a billionaire junkie, insane by all reasonable standards.”[3] 3. Bill Hybels in Leadership, Vol. X, no. 3 (Summer, 1989), p. 38. Some of us still won’t listen. So in desperation, God says, “What must I do to convince you that I love you and want what is best for you?” Then God put skin on and came to earth and loved us, taught us, was mocked for us, ridiculed for us, pierced for us, crucified for us, and then rose from the dead for us. Now, with scars on his hands, God reaches out to us and pleads, “Now will you listen to me?” Perhaps some of you reading this sermon feel like I am writing directly to you. Maybe you have accepted every invitation this world has to offer and it has been like salt water to your thirsty soul, making you thirstier than ever. Perhaps some of you have attended church your whole life yet never really have come to grips with the love of God. Oh, you have heard all about it before but never really allowed yourself to experience it. Perhaps some of you have accepted The Invitation before, but now your relationship with God is stale and you need to taste the fresh Bread of Life again. The good news is that God’s banquet of blessings has been prepared, and you are invited! There is a place at God’s table reserved for you. A special engraved invitation written by a pierced hand is yours. Isn’t it time for you to accept it? Come and receive God’s forgiving grace. Come quench your thirst for forgiveness and acceptance. Come and feast on God’s wisdom. Come and find nourishment for your soul, strength for your life, and purpose in living. Come! You’re invited never to be the same again. Join! That you might be spiritually fed, God’s Word in our text says, "Come to me" and "Hear me." In addition, God says, "Join me," for our text says, "I will make with you an everlasting covenant." Why don’t we realize the necessity of doing the same when it applies to spiritual sustenance? Often we eat spiritual food once a month or even only once a year. No wonder we are spiritual skeletons in obese bodies! Do we pray as often as we have a meal? Three times a day? Many don’t even make it once a day! Do we worship as often as we eat? How many hours a week do you spend eating meals, and do you spend at least one hour at worship? You and I daily read a newspaper to feed our minds, but how many of us feed our souls by reading the good news in the Bible? When was the last time you took Communion? Are you feeding your soul but once a year? Did you know that forty percent of the average Protestant congregation fails to take the Sacrament of the Altar once a year? No wonder our church rolls have dead wood, known as inactive members! With this kind of continuing spiritual diet, we should not be surprised that our souls are anemic and stunted. In our text, God offers a solution to this. He knows we need daily food through a continuing relationship with him, a relationship in which he feeds our souls. He says he will make with us an everlasting covenant. A covenant is an agreement or a contract between two parties. In his grace, God offers to enter into a continuing relationship with us. The believer and God are joined together as one, just as two people become one in the covenant of marriage. God in this covenant is to be your God and you are to be his child. For how long? God calls it an "everlasting covenant." It is made here on earth and continues through eternity. A covenant consists of promises made by both parties. In this everlasting covenant, God promises to love us, forgive us, care for us, and save us. In him is our eternal security, and never do we have to fear evil or death. Who could ever turn down an offer like that? How good of God! How wonderful he is! CSS Publishing Co., Inc., Old Truths For New Times, by John R. Brokhoff The prophet has a perfect formula for spiritual renewal and restoration. If we come, listen, seek, and call on him, he will answer our prayers and grant us the desires of our hearts and restore our faith and confidence as his people. We can defeat the spiritual famine which threatens the destruction of our very souls. He will quench our thirst and remove our hunger if we seek and call on him. All this can be offered without cost. Come, listen, seek, and call on the Lord while he may be found! Come to him, O sinner. Come to him, you who are weary. Come to him, you who are lost. Come to the Lord that he may renew your strength and give you joy for the living of these days! CSS Publishing Company, Deformed, Disfigured, and Despised, by Carlyle Fielding Stewart In his influential book When Corporations Rule the World, David C. Korten writes that "No sane person seeks a world divided between billions of excluded people living in absolute deprivation and a tiny elite guarding their wealth and luxury behind fortress walls. No one rejoices at the prospect of life in a world of collapsing social and ecological systems. Yet we continue to place human civilization and even the survival of our species at risk mainly to allow a million or so people to accumulate money beyond any conceivable need" [(1995), 261-262]. Isaiah's words caution the people of God not to spend their lives and livelihood on trying to attain the goods, the goodies, that Babylon has shown them. Babylon can't offer the people of God true bread. Babylon can't satisfy the hunger of an outcast people. The transitory, tempting excesses of Babylon an empire that didn't know Yahweh, that didn't know God's righteousness and strength, that didn't know God's steadfast, enduring love could never truly satisfy the longing spirit of the exiled people of Israel. To this hungering, thirsting outcast population Isaiah brings a stunning message: free food, free drink. To a spiritually starving people, the prophet doesn't suggest a clinging to God with the hope of some mere subsistence existence. On the contrary, God is offering rich food, wine and milk, a soul-satisfying feast of complete delight. In the midst of extended exile, in the face of national defeat and humiliation, Isaiah's text promises that God's covenant is yet alive. It's as it has always been, an everlasting covenant. God's presence remains in their midst, because God has never withdrawn God's steadfast, sure love for David (verse 3). Don't seek after the good life of Babylon. Seek after the GodLife, the abundant life of a covenant relationship with God. But there's a cost involved. God offers love freely. But a covenant relationship requires the people make some demands upon themselves. They must turn away from wickedness, and abandon unrighteous thoughts so that they're free to respond to God's gracious invitation to come and dine. ChristianGlobe Networks, Collected Sermons, by Leonard Sweet Dr. Leslie Weatherhead used to tell the story of a woman who was trying to find God. She had a certain dream which she dreamed more than once, namely that she was standing in front of a thick, plate-glass window. As she looked at it, she seemed to see God on the other side. She hammered on the window, trying to attract His attention, but without success. She grew more and more desperate, and soon found herself shrieking at him at the top of her voice. Finally, a quiet, calm voice at her side said: "Why are you making so much noise? There is nothing between us." Are there any more beautiful words in our language than these in Isaiah? Some years ago a novel came out named THE GREATEST DESIRE. In it a young writer was gathering material for his book by that same title. In his quest, he plied people with one question: "What do you want?" And he would not let anyone take refuge in proximate answers. If someone answered, "I want to be an engineer," the writer would follow with, "But why do you want to be an engineer? What do you really want?" Thus he tracked down the "great desire." Perhaps he should have consulted with Rudyard Kipling, for when Kipling stirred restlessly in a serious sickness and the nurse asked him if he wanted anything, he murmured, "I want God." (3) And that, I believe, is the greatest desire of anyone's heart. We come seeking God. The ironic thing is that, in searching for God, we always discover that God has been searching for us. That is the testimony of the New Testament. The shepherd is out on a hillside searching for the lost sheep. It is not we who stand at God's door and humbly knock. It is God who takes the initiative. It is He who knocks at our door. The main purpose of worship is not that we may find God, but that we might be quiet enough and still enough so that we can hear the soft knocking of God upon the doors of our heart. The story is told of an East Coast fishing village that was nearly destitute. The townspeople decided to hold a meeting in an attempt to resolve their complicated problems. A stranger showed up to the meeting, and he tried several times to speak. But there was a bit of community prejudice in that town, and the visitor was interrupted each time he opened his mouth. The locals didn't care for an outsider to become involved. A latecomer to the meeting showed up just as the visitor was leaving, and they passed each other in the entrance. The latecomer aske`d, "What was he doing here? Did he offer help? Is he going to aid us?" Not knowing what to make of this, the members of the assembly asked if he knew who the stranger was. The latecomer replied, "I saw his boat docked in the harbor. That was John D. Rockefeller, Sr!" (4) They ignored the one person who had the resources to help them. How often God comes to us, but we do not recognize him or receive him. But he still comes to those who are seeking, and those who are sensitive. Dr. George Hunter in his book, . . .AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS, tells about Bill Alexander; one of the prominent preachers of the 1930s, and also one of America's most celebrated after-dinner and convention speakers. One day Bill Alexander flew into Chicago to address a meeting of the annual convention of the American Academy of Mathematicians. He arrived as others were just beginning to assemble, went to the head table as was his custom, and noticed another man, slight and graying, already seated at the head table next to his own place. And Alexander, the consummate extrovert, blurted out, "Say fellow, you look familiar, what's your name?" And the man quietly replied, "My name is Albert Einstein." Well, that shook Alexander--not only because he had failed to identify the greatest mind of his age, but also because he suddenly sensed that those stock-in-trade stories that always went over so well at Kiwanis conventions just might not fit this audience's intellectual depth. He panicked, and in his panic Alexander heard a voice saying, "Tell them about me, Bill. Tell them about me!" So Alexander threw his lucrative reputation as an entertaining and synthetically inspiring after-dinner speaker to the winds, and proclaimed his understanding of the gospel. He declared that Jesus Christ and his mission are the legitimate, and only, hope for the human race. He sat down, wondering if he had blown it, when Einstein leaned over to him and said, "Say fellow, I hope your side wins. If you don't we're all doomed!" (7) Bill Alexander knew that we see God most clearly in the person of Jesus Christ. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. . ." Of course most of the people we meet will never see God unless they see him in us. Most people we meet nowadays will never read the story of Jesus Christ. Most of them will so insulate their lives to the voice of God that, in their hour of need, God will not be able to penetrate the barrier they have erected. Only if they see God in us will they know that he is near. It's like the young man whose girlfriend lived in a distant city. He wanted to have an engagement ring on hand when he proposed to her, so he sought the help of a friend who was a jeweler. In due course, after designing the ring, he was shown the materials. The diamond looked like any other stone he might have seen in a garden or along a sidewalk. And the gold was a bright, garish color, not at all like the gold he had seen used in other jewelry. On questioning the jeweler about the gold, he was told that it had not yet been refined. Still in doubt about the eventual beauty of the engagement ring, he asked: "And how do you know when it is pure enough?" to which the jeweler replied, as he peered over the crucible, "When I can see my face in it." (8) That is the kind of life God longs for us to have--so pure that He can see His face in it. Even more importantly, so pure that others can see His face in us. Dynamic Preaching, Collected Sermons, by King Duncan Toss a stone into a pond and long after that stone has settled into the silt on the bottom, you will continue to see the circles on the pond's surface ever-expanding, widening, disturbing, encompassing more and more of the once-placid surface. That's how it is with God's Word, once it has touched your life. Twelve-year-old Allison really enjoyed youth choir, participating in rhythmic speech ensembles, and singing the contemporary songs she loved. She already knew most of the words from listening to the radio. The words of scripture came alive to her when set to the music that pulsed through her veins. On Wednesday afternoons, she began inviting another girl, who was a good friend and neighbor, to accompany her. Allison's friend was a little skeptical about going to church at first, but Tom, the choir director, quickly won her over. It may have been his winsome personality, or the microwave popcorn and hot chocolate the group shared in the youth room after rehearsals. Whatever it was, she was having fun. Although her family did not belong to a church, this visitor began to attend Sunday morning worship once a month when the youth choir provided special music. She also accompanied Allison to youth group on Sunday evenings, and before long, Pastor Cindy had signed her up for Allison's confirmation class. She joined the church along with Allison's class and remained a faithful, active youth member of the congregation. Years later, Tom, who had been director of music at Allison's church, was teaching a seminary class in church music. Tom's class sang the hymns as they studied and learned hymnology. One afternoon they sang "What Wondrous Love Is This," the story of Christ's gracious life given for us. The final stanza ends with the words, And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on, And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on and joyful be, and through eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on, and through eternity I'll sing on.3 Tom then related the story of Allison's friend, and how we never know fully the impact on eternity of the seeds we plant. Allison's friend became an active member of her church, graduated from high school, and then went on to seminary. Tom astounded the class by saying, "That friend Allison brought to youth choir so many years ago is sitting in this very room with us today." Class members looked around at one another, wondering, "Who could it be?" After a lengthy pause, Tom revealed her identity. She was a professor of biblical studies at that very seminary, and sitting in on the class at Tom's request that afternoon, all because of seeds a young girl named Allison had planted nearly a quarter century earlier. There was hardly a dry eye in the classroom. Think of the lives this professor will touch as she prepares future pastors and lay professionals who, in turn, will equip others to plant seeds and spread God's Word. Through eternity, they will sing on because the voice of Allison has set the song into motion. Their influence will never end. Toss a stone into a pond and long after that stone has settled into the silt on the bottom, you will continue to see the circles on the pond's surface ever-expanding, widening, disturbing, encompassing more and more of the once-placid surface. That's how it is with God's Word, once it has touched your life. The prophet Isaiah has proclaimed that God's Word never returns empty. The ripple effect from Allison's invitation is eternal in nature, singing on and on. Because of the power of God's Word, Allison's influence will never end. Take heart when you share your own faith stories of how God has touched your lives. They, as well, are timeless and eternal. Invite your friends to worship, to Bible studies, even to social events at church. You will never know all the lives you influence, the lives God has placed into your capable hands. May your voices also sing on, throughout eternity, or in the words of the prophet Isaiah, "It shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." 1. Chief Seattle, "Wilderness Quotes," Outward Bound, available online at http://www.wilderdom.com/QuotesWilderness.htm [Accessed September 1, 2005]. 2. Oren Lyons, "The Faithkeeper," interview with Bill Moyers, Public Television, July 3, 1991, available online at http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/OL070391.html [Accessed September 1, 2005]. 3. American folk hymn. Both words and tune are in the public domain. CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Sermons for Sundays in Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany: Shoots of Tomorrow, by Mary S. Lautensleger The nature of the Word is vividly portrayed by the prophet of old. As the rain and snow come down from heaven and water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so the Word accomplishes God’s life-giving purpose. When God speaks, things happen. Life springs into existence, as in the beginning when God created heaven and earth by his Word. The same dynamism characterizes other metaphors used by the prophet as he describes the God who speaks. "Thus says the Lord ... soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed" (Isaiah 56:1). "The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (Isaiah 52:10). God is portrayed as taking the initiative, entering into personal dealings with men, making his saving power felt. When God addresses man, it is no mere communication of ideas but a bringing of deliverance and new life. The wicked and the unrighteous receive mercy and pardon, they are lifted up into life in God. CSS Publishing Co., Inc., Good News For All Seasons, by T. A. KantonenJoy does not depend on the external events of life. Adversity may hit us with gale-like force, but the joy in our hearts will be determined by the will of our souls. Joy is a choice! In his book, Laugh Again, written in 1991, author Charles Swindoll relates that he was on the Dallas Theological Seminary's Board of Regents as they interviewed the first woman faculty mem¬ber. Her name was Lucy Mabery. Swindoll chronicles the incredible journey of Professor Mabery on her ride to being a faculty member at Dallas Seminary. He writes that Lucy was rearing a family, teaching Bible classes, and was engaged in a dozen other activities while married to Dr. Trevor Mabery. Dr. Mabery was a successful physician in the Dallas area. At the zenith of his career he was also working with Focus on the Family ministry as a volunteer. He attended a retreat in Montana where he and three other men from the Dallas area had met with Focus on the Family Director, Dr. James Dobson. They discussed plans for the future of the organization and prayed for God's lead¬ership and the direction Focus on the Family should take over the next year. As they were flying back from their retreat meeting, something went terribly wrong with the airplane. The plane lost altitude and power then crashed, killing all four men on board. Their deaths sent shock waves throughout the Dallas commu¬nity as all four men were highly respected public figures. Their widows and families were left to pick up the pieces and restart their own lives. Dr. Swindoll writes that Lucy Mabery chose to do it with joy. Without a moment's hesitation or warning, grief tore into the Mabery family like a tornado. But, determined not to be bound by the cords of per¬petual grief, Lucy remained positive, keen thinking, and joyful. How can a person in Lucy's situation recover, pick up the pieces, and go on? How does anyone press on beyond grief? How do you still laugh at life? How do you put your arms around your children as a new single parent and help them laugh (see joy) in the fu¬ture? It comes from deep within — because people like Lucy Mabery set their sails for joy regardless of how the wind blows.[1] This is how Isaiah must have felt. His beloved Israel had to fight the foes of hatred, prejudice, and misery from external cir¬cumstances, but Isaiah says to hang on. He writes, "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and the trees of the field will clap their hands" (Isaiah 55:12 NIV). How can we set sail for a life full of joy? 1. Charles Swindoll, Laugh Again (Dallas: Word Publishing,1991), p. 35. 2. Richard Taylor, editor, Beacon Dictionary of Theology (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1983), p. 70. 3. King Duncan, Lively Illustrations for Effective Preaching (Knoxville: Seven Worlds Publishing, 1987), p. 68. Used by permission. CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Sermons on the First Readings, by Derl G. Keefer A call to discipleship is a call to enroll more and more people in “Jesus School” — a school from which none of us will ever “graduate.” An old Hasidic custom has a child’s first Torah teacher drop honey on the first page of the new student’s book. The student then licks the honey off the page when he/she turns the page. The sweetness of this honey is forever linked to the act of learning. The sweetness of learning is to be a lifelong craving. Isaiah cautioned the Israelites not to think they had God all figured out. It is a caution that we today need to take seriously. Instead of a triumphant return to power, and an end to their physical and political exile, Isaiah offered the image of a Suffering Servant. Instead of judgment for the wicked, a come-uppance for those who had embraced the gods of their captors, Isaiah revealed a divine invitation to a new table, a table flowing with water and wine and free for the taking. Instead of judgment and punishment, Isaiah promised God’s mercy and pardon. How do we comprehend the rules and regulations of such a God? God created us, gave us life, gave us the world, gave us a Garden of Eden, and gave us one rule. We broke Rule One. Then came Truth or Consequences. The consequences of our choice? We were kicked out — out of paradise, out of a perfect relationship with God. God’s ways are not our ways. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. God does not expect god-like comprehension from us. Instead of big ideas and new knowledge, instead of cosmic insight and a heavenly perspective, God requires only one response from us: Love. Mother Teresa put it like this. She said, “It is a mistake to demand clarity of God. I have made understanding an idol. Loving God supercedes knowing God.” That’s why that old song, “To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him” is less true for the Christian than another song that has yet to be written: “To love, love, love him is to know, know, know him.” Disciples of Jesus don’t know, to love. Disciples of Jesus love, to know. There are approximately 335,000 Christian congregations in the US. Do you know how many seminaries there are? Officially, ATS (Association of Theological Schools) has accredited slightly over 200 seminaries. But the word “seminary” means “seed-bed” . . . or “seed-bed” for faith. That means there are really 335,000 seminaries in the US, for every church is a seminary where disciples of Jesus Christ take his words seriously: “Learn of me” (Matthew 11:29). " "WHY DO YOU SPEND ... YOUR LABOR FOR THAT WHICH DOES NOT SATISFY?" A woman in our parish referred a lady to me for consultation, and the parishioner said of her friend: "I don’t know what her problem is. She has a very successful husband. She is certainly a success at everything she tries herself. I really can’t understand what her difficulty is." But when the lady came in, she placed her finger precisely on her problem, as she said to me: "You know, it seems that nothing I do feels important." You see, she was identifying her problem. She said: "I try to do things, and I’m successful at them, but somehow, I always end up by asking myself, ‘What’s the use?’ " Her self-diagnosis was correct. She had identified not only her problem, but the pressing problem of our day. Success in life is not our chief concern. Actually, when you get down to cases, it’s not very difficult to be a success in our society today. With average intelligence and a bit of honest application, we can be a success in almost any reasonable type of enterprise. Her problem and ours is not success but significance The newspaper carried the story of a man who had bought himself a new Cadillac. He noticed as he was driving the Cadillac that every time he would hit a slight bump or something, there was an awful thumping in the car someplace. Several times he took it in to be examined and serviced, but they never could find the cause, but always there was this thumping. Finally, he narrowed it down to one door of the car, and they took that door apart. Inside they found a coke bottle, and in the bottle was a note which read: "So you finally found me, you wealthy bastard." You see, the worker wasn’t destroying the owner’s satisfaction like he thought he was. He was destroying his own, because he wasn’t performing his task in love for the man who would someday own the car that he was helping build.

You are invited to the Party of Faith

Rev. Harriette Cross First United Methodist Church of Wilmington October 15, 2023 Matthew 22:1-14 You are invited to the party of faith 20th Sunday after Pentecost Year A Prelude Welcome Call to Worship L: You have been invited to a special feast. P: We need more details, for our schedules are very busy. L: This is celebration of commitment between God and God’s people. P: Maybe next time, we have other plans. What is God going to do if we don’t come? L: Your response is noted. There are many others who would be delighted to come, even on a last minute notice. God looks forward to greeting them and celebrating with them. P: Will we get a second chance? God forgive us for placing our schedules and other plans before coming to your celebration L: Patient and persistent God, we are grateful that even when we get sidetracked, you are with us. Be in our hearts and spirits today as we learn of your love through creation. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Opening Prayer Lord of diversity and union, we call upon you this day to open our hearts to your love, our ears to your words, our eyes to see the needs of those both near and far, and our spirits to do your will. Be with us and give us courage and inspiration for the future of your world, O Lord. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Song Lord Listen to your Children Praying TFWS 2193 Children’s Sermon Greet children, with plenty of fun “party props” such as hats, streamers, balloons, gift wrap, noisemakers, etc. Hello, children of God! Look at all of this fun stuff! I’m ready to go to a party…have you ever been invited to a party before? I love birthday parties, and I also enjoy Christmas parties, or welcome home parties or going away parties, or…well, any kind of celebration, really! What do you like about going to parties? (Allow for quick responses.) I like getting cake, or playing games, or having a good time with people…and you know what I really love? I love getting goody bags! Isn’t it fun to take home free treats after a party? Well, it just so happens I have a goody bag here. There are some great little items inside… (Remove several small toys or treats from the bag. Lastly, take out a cross) Well, this is interesting. I don’t usually see these in birthday party treat bags, do you? Hmm… Well, in our Gospel story today, there was a party of sorts going on. Jesus told a parable about a man who was having a big party for his son. The man throwing the party was the king, and his son was getting married and having a feast. The king sent out a whole bunch of invitations to people, but a lot of them said no. They refused his invitation and rejected going to the special feast, with silly excuses. Nobody wants to go to a party with no people, right? So instead, the king went out into the streets and invited anyone and everyone to his feast. All they had to do was put on a special piece of clothing to be presentable. A lot of people got to go to the party! But some people refused to wear the special clothing. Because of that, they couldn’t stay at the feast. What does this mean for us? The parable was an explanation of how God invites us to be part of His Heavenly family. God wants everyone to be at the “party” of Heaven. And we don’t have to do anything special to do that! All it takes is accepting the free gift of salvation. Our “wedding garment” is the blood of Jesus. As long as we recognize His sacrificial death and what it means for us, our lives can be changed and made new. That’s much better than a goody bag! Because of Jesus, we are all invited to share in God’s grace. Anyone can believe and receive new life. We can also share that news and invite other people to be part of God’s family. The Gospel is a powerful and wonderful gift for all! Why don’t we thank God for that right now? Let’s pray: Children’s Prayer Moment (Have kids repeat each line) Dear God, Thank you for inviting us into your family Help us to reach out and invite others Thank you for clothing us with Christ Thank you for your love We love you, God! In Jesus name, Amen! (Ministry to Children – Kristin Schmidt) A LITANY PRAYER FOR PEACE (adapted from the United Methodist Book of Worship, #520) Jesus, Prince of Peace, hear our prayers for all the peoples of the world. Deliver us from every evil that opposes your will for peace. From the curse of war and all that creates it, O Lord, deliver us. From willful ignorance and selfish isolation, O Lord, deliver us. From fear and distrust of those not like us, O Lord, deliver us. From false pride and self-justifications, O Lord, deliver us. From the lust for riches, power and status, O Lord, deliver us. From a poverty of compassion and lives of shallow love, O Lord, deliver us. From putting our trust in the weapons of war and from want of faith in the power of justice and good will. O Lord, deliver us From every thought, word, and deed which that the human family and separates us from the perfect realization of your love Forgive us and heal us, O Lord, that we may live daily in your image. Amen Passing of the Peace Scripture Matthew 22:1-14 Sermon You are invited to the party of faith My son’s first field trip was in kindergarten, they went to the Kenosha County zoo. At the time, my son was staying with my mother, I had just moved back into town. We were both in contact with his school, and when this field trip came up, I thought it was a perfect way to bond with him. The teacher asked for parent chaperones. I was so excited when the teacher sent home chaperone instructions, and it said that we needed to have a bagged lunch just like the kids. I had memories of going on field trips as a child and my mom would pack all of my favorite snacks in the bag, so that I would have fun things to eat all day. So, on the day before the trip, I had so much fun going to the store buying things for my lunch. I was young, so I had to be economincal as well. I remember buying Wonder bread, and mayonnaise and stuff to put on the sandwich, picking out the cookies, and they had a sale on pop. You did not get pop every day for lunch, but remember, on field trip days you would get one. And in order to keep it cold all day, your mom would wrap it in foil. I even had to buy the baggies and paper bags to put the lunch in. I was so excited, I went home and fixed my lunch and put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. On the day of the trip. You had to put your name on the bag so that you could get it back for lunch. When lunch time time came, each chaperone got a group of kids that they had to eat with and there was a list of questions that we had to ask to help the kids process the trip. I remember I had a group of all boys, and as I am trying to connect with them and talk, I open my bag and realized that there was not one thing there that I was actually going to eat. I don’t eat white bread, don’t eat cold food, don’t eat store bought cookies, and I was not going to drink the 15cent generic pop that had no flavor. I closed the bag and told the boys that I would not be eating today – and I had to go hungry. The funny thing is, I realized – that I knew I wasn’t going to eat anyof that stuff when I went to the store and bought it. I knew I didn’t want it when I prepared it. And yet for some reason, I really believed in my head, that by putting all of that stuff in a brown paper bag and taking it to the zoo – that somehow things were going to change. I was going to eat – things that I know I don’t even like. I tell that story as an allegory – a story with a truth and a lesson about life. I think that is how a lot of us go to church. After it is over, we go home hungry and unfulfilled. We say – I didn’t really get anything out of church, church doesn’t move me, church is boring, church doesn’t mean anything to me. And we are convinced that it is all about the church, and not about the attiude that we bought with us when we walked in the door. We don’t think about what it is that we put in our brown paper bag to feed of when we came. If we bought preconceinved notions, expectations of people, disappointments, and frustrations with us – that is what we are going to experience while we are here. If we come with questions then we are going to leave with questions, if we dome dobtful, then we are going to leave doubtful, if we come suspicious, then we are going to leave suspicious. If we remember to pack joy, peace, and an open mind, and a willingness to meet God in a fresh new way – we don’t have to be surprised when we find it. In today’s lesson – that is what Jesus does – he tells us an allegory about real life – he tells us the story about the king’s son’s wedding. Everyone is invited – but no one want to come. This is the party of the the year, of a lifetime – where only the elite of the elite would come to be seen. And no one comes. At least in Luke’s version of the story – people give excuses why they cant come – they have family obligations, they have to work, they are sick. In Matthew’s version – they just don’t show up. Matthew gives us a glimpse of what life is like in his world. We all know that Jesus tends to be peaceful and tells us to stay away from violence. And yet Matthew takes the liberty to add his commentary to the story. This story takes place with very violent undertones – first, the people who give the invitation are killed by the people, and then the king goes out and kills them and destroys their city. This is a very important detail in light of current events. Matthew is telling this story in the midst of a revolution – so he wants us to understand the conditions. In spite of all of the violence going on – the wedding continues. Things are a little different, but the wedding still goes on. The guest list is different – not just the elite, but anybody and every body The story teaches us, or at this point reminds us that God extends an invitation to everyone to come into God’s presence. We can come as we are. And yet Matthew makes it very clear that the invitation is not just to come and show up. God Enjoys AND Enjoins Us- Matthew 22:1-14 by Leonard Sweet Director/actor Woody Allen is known for a lot of quotes. But maybe his most famous quote is this one. Anyone want to guess what it is? “Ninety percent of life is just showing up.” But Woody Allen is famously wrong. Ninety percent of life is what we do AFTER we show up. Why do we want to believe Allen’s computations so badly? We eagerly embrace Woody’s calculus because it takes us off the hook for all but ten percent of our lifetime of screw-ups, fall-flats, and melt-downs. It is easy to just “be there.” It is much harder to be there for the long haul, the hard times, the big tests, the final curtain. Just “showing up” at your wedding might get you married, but it doesn’t build a living, loving, fighting, mortgage paying, in-law juggling, overdrawn, children challenged, lifetime relationship. Just “showing up” at the birth of your child might make you a “parent,” but it does not make you a changing diapers, up-all-night, learning dinosaur names, cheering at rain-soaked side-lines, doing Algebra homework, enforcing curfews, saving for college, Mom or Dad. Just “showing up” at church every Sunday morning might make you a member-in-good-standing, but it does not automatically put feet on your faith. G. K. Chesterton used to say that “Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.” To be a Christian takes action; it takes a day-to-day commitment to follow Jesus wherever he leads… Put on Your Party Hat In her novel A Thousand Acres Jane Smiley shows readers a highly dysfunctional family which nevertheless attended churcheach Sunday. Yet this is how the novel's narrator sums up this religious practice: "We came to church to pay our respects, not to give thanks." When faith becomes a compartment of life instead of life's vibrant center, when you're just stopping off to put in your time or pay your respects, squeezing God in between everything else that you clearly value much more highly, then you reveal yourself as an ill-clad impostor. You haven't put on a festive wedding garment, you're still refusing to wear that funny party hat because you fail to realize that the kingdom of God is a high, holy, hilarious feast thrown by a king who has prepared the best of everything. Scott Hoezee, Comments and Observations In Jesus’ allegory – there is more violence in the wedding. A guy shows up without party clothes and not only is he put out he is tied up and thrown into hell. Apparently hell is right outside of the doors of the party. In light of present event, I would wonder if it was obvious in the way that he was dressed that he was a spy or something. But I also know that in other stories, that the proper attire at a wedding was important. If you read through the new testament – you will see that proper attire is important to our faith. Maybe that is where the tradition of wearing your Sunday best comes from. But the clothes that the bible talks about is usually in our hearts. Clothing and Spiritual Change Clothing is a common New Testament metaphor for spiritual change. Paul wrote in Romans, "Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" (Rom 13:14). And in First Corinthians, "The perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:53). In Colossians, we read, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12). Finally, in First Peter we are admonished, "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble'" (1 Peter 5:5). Being clothed anew is a consistent New Testament expression for holiness and righteousness. The old clothes have to come off and new ones put on. This text confronts us with the paradox of God's free invitation to the banquet with no strings attached and God's requirement of "putting on" something appropriate to that calling. The theological point is that we are warned of the dire consequences of accepting the invitation and doing nothing except showing up. Mickey Anders, When Showing Up Isn't Enough I have a new respect for Matthew – I have always felt that the book of Matthew could be a little harsh in it’s lessons. But perhaps that was just the world that Matthew lived in, and he was just trying to give us a glimpse of the difficulties that he was facing. The last line of our scripture says – Many are invited, but few are chosen. That does not sound very hospitable – what does that mean? It means that God extends grace to all of us – but we have to be careful – because grace is not cheap. – nor is it to be taken for granted. If We Miss a Deadline A tough, old cowhand sauntered into a saloon and began drinking whiskey by the bottle. The more he drank, the more unruly he became, shooting holes in the ceiling and floor. Everybody was afraid to take on the old cowhand. Finally, a short, mild-mannered storekeeper walked up to the unruly cowhand and said, "I'll give you five minutes to get out of town." The old cowhand holstered his gun, pushed the whiskey bottle away, briskly walked out, got on his horse, and rode out of town. When he left, someone asked the storekeeper what he would have done if the unruly cowhand had refused to go. "I'd have extended the deadline," he said. Many Christians have that concept of God: if we miss a deadline, God will simply extend it. They do not take the judgment of God seriously. "I sin, God forgives," is their attitude. They wallow in what Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls "cheap grace." Grace is not cheap. Grace can be understood only as it stands in relief of God's judgment. God examines us and finds us unfit, unprepared for the wedding feast. But by faith in Jesus Christ - Christ, who gave himself for the expiation of our sins - we are made recipients of God's unconditional acceptance of us as worthy, fully dressed. But that grace has been dearly purchased. Our sins are serious business. It is only because of God's great love for us that God forgives us of our sins and dresses us in new, more appropriate clothes. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com We are all invited to God’s party. It is not just about lunch in a brown paper bag – it is a feast, a feast of a lifetime. We will not be disappopinted. But when we show up, we have to be active participants – not just looking for love and peace, but finding it in our hearts. Rhoda Boggs, The Strawberry Lady, touring with a theater company in Leningrad several years ago, was quoted as giving this report of a visit to a Christian Church in that Russian City. This was while communisim still reigned over that nation. I’m tore to pieces. I’ve been going to church since I could walk, but I’ve never known Jesus like I knew him today. Oh child, he was there – he was out in the open. He was written on every face. He was singin with us, and you’ve never heard such singin. It was old people mostly, and old people can’t sing like that unless Jesus us helping them along. And then the pastor asked that we, the black members of the cast our sing a spiritual. And they listened so quiet, all those rows and rows of faces lookin at us like were were telling them that nobody’s alone, that Jesus is everywhere on this earth – which is a fact they know already, but it seems to me they were glad to hear about it. Anybody doubts the existence of our savior, he should have been there. Well it came time to go and you know what happened? They stood up. The whole congregation stood us and they took out white handerkercheifs and they waved them in the air and they sand God be with you till we meet again. The tears just pouring down their faces, theirs and ours. Oh child it really churned me up. May the Jesus we have in our heart, show up in our worship in our faces and in our lives. Amen. Song I want Jesus to Walk with me UMH 521 Prayers of the People (Just print the title, I will read) Gracious God, we thank you for all that you provide and the blessings we receive daily from you. We know that, at times, we feel hopeless amid so much uncertainty in our world, but we trust you, O God, to bring us peace. And to give us comfort when we are overwhelmed with anxiety. Please help us be calm in the chaos around us and give us the strength to overcome. Gracious God, we bring all our concerns, doubts, and insecurities with the confidence that you are walking with us and guiding us with your Holy Spirit. Mold us into the vessels you want us to be, full of hope and joy. Gracious God, we lift prayers for the homeless, the hungry, the lonely, the rejected, those left behind, and all suffering injustice in our community and the world. Hear their cries for healing, wholeness, and acceptance, O loving God. Gracious God, we ask that your Holy Spirit accompany and protect our brothers and sisters in communities dealing with violence and hatred. We pray for continued strength and courage for all being persecuted by society. Let us not be afraid to stand boldly to speak against all hate and violence. God, you call us beloved, even when we stand in the face of violence and fear. Please help us to continue to be agents for transformation and equity. Gracious God, help us live according to your word’s mandates that call us to love one another as you love us. Help to show mercy and offer compassion and forgiveness to all in our care. Help us acknowledge when we have not been good stewards or loving to our neighbor or the stranger. Gracious God, we pray that our hearts will be open to the change that needs to happen here on earth so your Sovereignty will be a reality and all your creation will sing your praises. Please help us to see each other as gifts from you. Let us enthusiastically embrace your love to share the good news with those who need to hear and receive your amazing grace. Amen. ( United Church of Christ, Worship Ways, Rev. Persida Rivera-Mendez) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment (use your own experience to share in this moment, or utilize this more generic statement) Many people participating in church life began learning about stewardship as children. Part of learning about money and sharing our money came from parents (and others), teaching about tithing, or about regularly setting aside “first fruits” to contribute to the weekly offering. Paul, writing to the believers in Phillipi, urged them to “keep on doing the things you have learned and received and heard and seen…” We might encourage the same for each one here, today. You may have learned as a child, or it may have been when you began your life in the church. When, and from whom, did you learn about sharing financially? Who urged you to keep on doing the things you learned? Paul reminds the early Christians when they keep on doing what they’ve learned, “the God of peace will be with you.” And I’ll second that! When I regularly do what I have learned about giving generously to the life of this congregation, I delight in my awareness of the God of peace giving me a sense of inner peace. Let me encourage you to try it! Here’s your opportunity, as we receive our morning gifts, tithes and offerings. Prayer of Thanksgiving Gift-giving God, thank you for the abundance you share with your beloved sons and daughters! We ask you now to receive what has been offered here – a portion of what you have first given us. Accept our gifts. Help us put them to their best use. And encourage us to grow in our capacity to be more like you, so each of us might regularly offer the best we have to help build up your Realm here and now. AMEN. (Disciples of Christ, Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Let us go from this place trusting that God is with us and for us in every place. May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of God, and the companionship of the Holy Spirit be with you and abide with you this day and forever- more. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, John Wurster) Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Build a fire under us and within us, O Lord. Enable us to joyfully go into your world to serve your people and in doing so serve you also. Go in peace, dear friends. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Additional Illustrations Sermon Opener - The King’s Reception (What Are you Wearing to the Wedding?) Perhaps you have heard of the family that moved into the neighborhood and the little country church decided to reach out to the family. When they arrived at the doorstep the members of the church were surprised to find that the family had 12 kids and were for the most part poor. They invited the family to services and said goodbye. Later that week the church responded to their need. They delivered a package to the family and said, "We want you to know that you and your entire family are welcome at our church anytime. We have bought you these gifts and we want you to feel comfortable and at ease in our congregation. We hope you can use these," and they left. The family opened the package to find 14 suits of clothing, beautiful clothes for every member of the family. Sunday came and the congregation waited for the family, and they waited. The family never showed. Wondering what could have possibly happened, after lunch the members of the church returned to the home and found the family just getting back, all dressed in their new clothes. ”We don’t mean to be nosey but we would like to know what happened. We had hoped to see you this morning in church,” the leader of the church inquired. The father spoke up. He said, “Well, we got up this morning intending to come. And we sure do appreciate your invitation. But after we showered, shaved, and dressed, why we looked so proper we went to the Episcopal Church.” That's a funny way of talking about a serious problem. Invitations are sent to many to come to church but so few people respond. It's frustrating. Many of you have reached out to neighbors or friends and asked them to come to church and you know all too well the disappointment, how few respond. Maybe that is why we find this morning’s parable so familiar… All Night Long . . . Some years ago, a friend of mine from church pulled me out into the parking lot to listen to a tape in her car. Darlene Malmo wanted me to hear her favorite Lionel Ritchie song. There was this song about life being like a party, “all night long.” She said, “I am going to party all night long with God.” That is what being a Christian is. Some Christian say that it is not right to have such a mood of happiness and joy. Especially when there is so much starvation. When there is so much hunger. When there is so much suffering in the world, it is not right to be happy. But that is not true. I think of the hymn, “This Is My Father’s World” and the great words to that hymn. “This is my father’s world, o let me ne’ver forget. That though the wrong be oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my father’s world, o let my heart by glad, for the Lord is king, let the heavens ring. God reigns, let the earth be glad.” Yes, in this world there is so much suffering and so much starvation, but it is also a banquet. Joy, in the middle of suffering, is at the core of being a Christian. Edward F. Markquart, Excuses to Avoid a Wedding Humor: No, I’m Just Seasick The writer Bill Henderson recalls meeting a man aboard a cruise ship who claimed to be an expert in guessing professions. "See that man over there," he said. "He is a physician." Bill checked and sure enough that was right. "How could you tell?" he asked the man. "Well," he said, "I saw the caring lines on his forehead and could tell he was a person of great compassion." Bill Henderson pointed to someone else and said, "What about him? What does he do?" "That's a lawyer," the expert said. Bill checked and sure enough, he was. The expert explained that the man had a scholarly look and was somewhat formal, indicating an attorney. Then Bill pointed to another man. The expert studied him and said, "That's a preacher." Bill approached the man and asked, "Are you a preacher?" "No," said the man. "I'm just seasick; that's the reason I look so sad." How strange that many Christians have a long-faced reputation. Jesus could not have been that way; if he had been, children would not have clung to him so readily. Bill Bouknight, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com Our Hope, Our Terror Several summers ago I spent three days on a barrier island where loggerhead turtles were laying their eggs. One night while the tide was out, I watched a huge female heave herself up on the beach to dig her nest and empty her eggs into it. Afraid of disturbing her, I left before she had finished. The next morning I returned to see if I could find the spot where her eggs lay hidden in the sand. What I found were her tracks leading in the wrong direction. Instead of heading back out to sea, she had wandered into the dunes, which were already as hot as asphalt in the morning sun. A little ways inland I found her: Exhausted, all but baked, her head and flippers caked with dried sand. After pouring water on her and covering her with sea oats, I fetched a park ranger who returned with a jeep to rescue her. He flipped her on her back, wrapped tire chains around her front legs, and hooked the chains to a trailer hitch on his jeep. Then I watched horrified as he took off, yanking her body forward so that her mouth filled with sand and her neck bent so far back I thought it would break. The ranger hauled her over the dunes and down onto the beach. At the ocean's edge, he unhooked her and turned her right side up. She lay motionless in the surf as the water lapped at her body, washing the sand from her eyes and making her skin shine again. A wave broke over her; she lifted her head slightly, moving her back legs. Other waves brought her further back to life until one of them made her light enough to find a foothold and push off, back into the ocean. Watching her swim slowly away and remembering her nightmare ride through the dunes, I reflected that it is sometimes hard to tell whether you are being killed or saved by the hands that turn your life upside down. Our hope, through all our own terrors, is that we are being saved. But this does not mean we lie down before the terrors. For as long as we have strength to fight, it is both our nature and our privilege to do so. Sometimes God's blessing does not come until daybreak, after a full night of emptying ourselves and wandering in the wrong direction. Our job is to struggle with the terrors, neither surrendering nor stealing away until they have yielded their blessings. Barbara Brown Taylor, The Other Side – Tales of Terror, Times of Wonder There was a doctor who received a call late at night to come to the hospital. Someone was near death and needed a physician's attention or death was certain. The hospital was 30 miles away in another town. The doctor dressed and took off in his car. At a stoplight a man jumped into his car, pulled a gun, and told the doctor to get out. "I need your car. Get out," was all he said. The doctor got out and had to find another way to get to the hospital. When he finally arrived the nurse met him and told him the woman just died. "You are too late, Doctor. But would you go and say a word to the husband. He is weeping uncontrollably in the family lounge." When the doctor entered the lounge he found the husband in a corner. To his great surprise he discovered that the husband was the very man who pulled the gun on him because he needed his car. Sometimes we push out of our lives the very thing that can help us. It might be the church, it might be the Bible, Christian friends, a nudge to make a clear commitment. It might be taking the step of accepting the invitation to the marriage feast. George S. Johnson, Critical Decisions in Following Jesus, CSS Publishing Company _______________________________ Everyone Is Invited The writer Drew Duke recalled from her childhood her second grade Valentine's Day party. Several days earlier a big decorated box had been placed at the front of the room by the teacher. It had a slit in the top. Each student had been invited to bring valentines addressed to friends and to drop them into the box. Then on Valentine's Day, one student was designated by the teacher as the postman to distribute the cards. Earlier that week Drew's mother had bought a package of 35 valentine cards. Drew asked her, "Why did you buy so many?" She replied, "So you can give one to each person in your class." "No ma'am," Drew said, "We don't do it that way. We only give cards to our special friends. I only need four cards. I don't even like some of the people in my class." Her mother said nothing else. Drew signed four cards and put the names on the front. Everybody was excited when the Valentine's Party began. The girl designated as postman began calling the names and handing out the cards. Some very popular children got bunches of cards. Drew heard her name called quite often and was having a wonderful time. But then she became aware that the little girl sitting in front of her had received no cards. Her head was drooping lower and lower. Then suddenly the postman called this little girl's name and delivered to her one valentine. Her face lit up like morning sunshine. She tore open that valentine, hurrying to see who had cared enough to send it. Drew looked over her shoulder and saw that it was signed "Your secret admirer." The little girl smiled and glanced around the room, wondering who it could be. "But", said Drew, "I knew who it was but I didn't tell. I recognized my mother's handwriting." Her mother had obtained a class roster and had sent a card to every child in the class. Drew learned from her mother what her mother learned from God: that God's love reaches even the unlovely, and everybody is invited to God's party! Bill Bouknight, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com Time for God’s Banquet Our first priority is God. If you are too busy to heed God's voice then you are too busy. If you are too busy to perform some service in His kingdom, then you are too busy. We must not forget that there will come a time when our relationship with Him will be the only priority that will matter. In the famous French story, The Little Prince, the dearest friend the main character makes on the fictitious planet to which he has been banished is a fox. When the fox must leave the little prince forever, he offers to tell him the most wonderful secret in the world if the prince meets certain conditions. When the little prince has met all the conditions, he asks to be told the greatest secret. The fox replies, "Only that which is invisible is essential." Think about that for a moment. It is true. "Only that which is invisible is essential." In A Journey with the Saints, Thomas S. Kepler has written: "The secret of the revolution in the lives of the saints lies in the fact that their lives are centered in God. They never seem hurried, they have a large leisure, they trouble little about their influence; they refer the smallest things to God. They live in God." That is the great secret to successful living the realization that when one reserves time to come to God's banquet, all of the rest of life will fall in place. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com _______________________________ What Do We Want to Tell the Children? The parable of the Wedding Banquet teaches us that we must be prepared and that character (both these symbolized by the proper clothes or lack thereof) is important in the Kingdom of God. But that does not mean that the party, the wedding banquet) is not meant to be a party. The kingdom of God is a great and exciting event. But what do we teach our children about this Kingdom? Do we teach them that the party will be bore. In a poetic parody of "serious" instructions to children, Ann Weems writes, "What do we want to tell the children? Jesus Christ says, comb your hair. And what do we tell the children? Jesus Christ says, sit on your chair. And what do we tell the children? Jesus Christ says, be polite. And what do we tell the children? Jesus Christ says, do everything right! Jesus says, please sit down Jesus says, do not frown. Jesus says, don’t cry if you’re hurt. Jesus says, don’t play in the dirt. Jesus says, don’t have any fun! And what do we want to tell the children? We want to tell them shhhhh!" From Ann Weems’ Reaching for Rainbows Thankful for God’s Gifts Jenny Lind always spent a few minutes alone in her dressing room before a concert. Her maid, who locked the door and stood guard, has told what happened in those last moments of preparation. Miss Lind would stand in the middle of the floor, her shoulders back, and her head up, draw a deep breath, strike a clear, vibrant note, and hold it as long as her breath lasted. When the overtones had all died away, she would look up and say: "Master, who has given me this undeserved gift, let me ring true tonight." When we realize what a gift this invitation to God's kingdom is to us, we too will try our best to ring true. We have been invited to a grand feast of worship today, and as we come, our lives ought to be changed. If we come prepared to worship, ready for prayer, conscious of our sins, then worship will be worship indeed. Jerry L. Schmalenberger, When Christians Quarrel, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.

God's Plan for us?

March 20, 2022 3rd Sunday of Lent God’s Plan for us? Isaiah 55:1-9 Year C Opening Song Welcome Introit Invocation Author of abundance, God of change, we come into this hour with holy expectations. As we travel on our journey of transformation this Lenten season, we know that you are with us. You walk beside us. Your presence surrounds us. Help us to bear fruit as we walk this road. Remind us that you will never leave us nor forsakes us, that your rod and your staff comfort us, that you have prepared a feast for us when all can come and eat. Keep us forever in the path as we worship you in spirit and in truth. Amen. (Rev. Mia McClain) Hymn of Praise Guide Me O thou Great Jehovah UMH 127 Responsive Reading Psalm 63:1-8 UMH 788 Prayer of Confession This is the season of turning. We are called on this journey to turn our lives to the Lord, to turn away from all those things which have harmed us and others; to separate ourselves from actions and attitudes that demean and destroy. It is far too easy for us to sink into the mire of self-pity and self-serving attitudes, wondering why everything isn’t coming our way. We want comfort, contentment, no stress, no struggle. Yet our lives are filled with stress and discontent. We hurt, Lord. We hurt in our bodies and our souls. We hurt in our relationships with others. How we must try your patience! We don’t want to be like this - we want to feel the warmth of your love, the freedom of your spirit, the joy of serving you. Forgive us for our selfishness and stupidity. Heal us. For we ask these things in Jesus’ Name. AMEN. Words of Assurance You are given another chance! God has heard your cries. Turn again to the Lord. Find comfort and strength in God’s eternal love for you. Be healed. AMEN. (Nancy C. Townley) Passing of the Peace Scripture Isaiah 55:1-9 Common English Bible Invitation to the feast 55 All of you who are thirsty, come to the water! Whoever has no money, come, buy food and eat! Without money, at no cost, buy wine and milk! 2 Why spend money for what isn’t food, and your earnings for what doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is good; enjoy the richest of feasts. 3 Listen and come to me; listen, and you will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful loyalty to David. 4 Look, I made him a witness to the peoples, a prince and commander of peoples. 5 Look, you will call a nation you don’t know, a nation you don’t know will run to you because of the LORD your God, the holy one of Israel, who has glorified you. 6 Seek the LORD when he can still be found; call him while he is yet near. 7 Let the wicked abandon their ways and the sinful their schemes. Let them return to the LORD so that he may have mercy on them, to our God, because he is generous with forgiveness. 8 My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans. Anthem Sermon – God’s Plan for us? One of my most endearing childhood memories – was the ice cream truck driving through the neighborhhood. Whenever our household would hear that music, everyone would stop what they were doing and run outside, and somehow come up with the money to buy ice cream. I don’t know if there was an ice cream truck around here, but in Cicero he came every day. I lived across from a elementary school, so as a matter of fact he parked outside my house every day to wait for the kids. It was a good humor truck, and I preferred cones, so I didn’t buy from him all of the time. When I lived in Oak Park, it was the knife sharpener guy. He would drive down the streets and ring his bell in his truck – and if you had dull knives, then you bought them to his truck. If you go to a ball game, it is the peanut vendor who calls out to you. And for a while, you would go downtown Chicago and a street vendor would call out – get your Streetwise newspaper. People have been calling out of our homes and our comfort zones for years – and no matter what they are selling, we come running to spend our money on whatever they have. That is why the prophet Isaiah begins his message in chapter 55 by calling out to us to come. Don’t Spend your money – but bring your appetite. But God is here – come closer. Come says the prophet – listen to the good news. The good news? Usually the good news comes from the gospel and the new testament, and the Hebrew bible gives us a judgement. But here we are with Isaiah giving us the good news – come on, God is here. As a matter of fact, come is God’s favorite phrase in the bible, right behind Do not be afraid. " One time workmen were blasting rock in a quarry. After attaching the fuse and withdrawing to a safe distance, they noticed a three-year-old child wandering in the danger zone. They called to him and waved their arms for him to run away, but he only looked at them with amusement. Then his mother appeared and sized up the situation. She did not run to him nor yell for him to come to her. Instead, she knelt down, opened wide her arms, and smiled for him to come. Instantly, her son ran to her, and when the explosion took place, he was safe in her arms. So God in Christ looks at us with love and with open arms and says to us, "Come." If we respond to this invitation of love, we, too, will escape the explosion of an evil world. Come all who are thirsty, come to the water, all who don’t have any money- come and eat. Isaiah invites us to all of the Lenten practices to bring us closer to God - Isaiah invites us to repent, return, renew and rejoice. Isaiah’s invitation is to seek God while God can still be found. When we listen to the news, we can easily ask where is God in the midst of all that is happening. When we listen, we listen less and less. A search for God is made because we do not see God. A pastor once visited the kindergarten class of his church school. The teacher, in introducing him, explained who he was and what he did, "Children, we have a special guest this morning. Do you know who he is?" One little fellow tentatively answered, "God?" "No," she said, "but he works for God." Then the pastor told about his work. As he started to leave, the same lad called out, "Next time, bring God with you. I’ve never seen him." Many adults could say the same. That is why we need to seek him. Isaiah gives us four reasons to seek God. First of all what all of those other vendors that call out to us to eat, to buy, to consume will not really satisfy us – eventually we will need to buy more. Moreover, we may experience an emptiness in our lives. We are empty of food and drink, and we do not know where to go to get filled. One time, Marge wrote to Ann Landers: "I’m forty-four, husband same age. We get along okay - no drinking, no gambling, no skirt chasing. He has a good job and our home is paid for. Our four children are healthy and normal. They do well in school and the three older ones have never caused us any trouble. So why am I writing? Because my life is blah. Something is missing. It’s like stew without salt. I feel a certain emptiness. What is it?" How can a person have so much and so many blessings and yet feel unfulfilled? Yet, many of us are in the same position as Marge whose life is "Blah"! Life has lost its zip, its excitement. We want true life, something worthwhile to do and live for. Many of us are like the Easter chocolate bunnies - hollow inside. Second, it is time to turn away from the ways of the sinning world. One Pastor put it this way – the devil takes visa, but the master’s card the bible leads us a different way. Third God shows us true love “What’s that?” I asked. She said, “You mentioned in your talk that God loves me. Do you believe that? Because I don’t believe anyone has ever loved me. My dad left me and my mother abused me, and I have gone from one institution to another. I’ve been sexually abused, neglected, and you are telling me that God loves me?” “That’s right,” I said. “God loves you!” She paused for a moment as tears began rolling down her cheeks. Then she said simply, “Well, if God loves me, then nothing else matters. If God loves me, that’s all that matters.” Fourth – our ways are not God ways I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew, He moved my soul to seek him, seeking me; It was not I that found, O Savior true. No, I was found of Thee. • Forgive, when you feel like condemning. • Accept when you feel like blaming. • Love when you feel like hating. • Give more when you feel like quitting. • Return when you feel like running. Perhaps some of you hearing this sermon feel like I am writing directly to you. Maybe you have accepted every invitation this world has to offer and it has been like salt water to your thirsty soul, making you thirstier than ever. Perhaps some of you have attended church your whole life yet never really have come to grips with the love of God. Oh, you have heard all about it before but never really allowed yourself to experience it. Perhaps some of you have accepted The Invitation before, but now your relationship with God is stale and you need to taste the fresh Bread of Life again. The good news is that God’s banquet of blessings has been prepared, and you are invited! There is a place at God’s table reserved for you. A special engraved invitation written by a pierced hand is yours. Isn’t it time for you to accept it? There are people like those in Zaire who hunger for spiritual food which they find in the Scriptures. Some years ago a shipment of 750 Bibles was sent to a merchant to be sold at three dollars each. With the average annual income of only eighty-five dollars, the people literally broke down the door of the merchant before he opened for business - just to buy a Bible! Would that we all were hungry for spiritual food found in the Word of God! "Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters ..." CSS Publishing Co., Inc., Old Truths For New Times, by John R. Brokhoff So, lets face it. No matter where we are in life, no matter what we are doing, we can’t escape the call to come. It may not be the ice cream truck, but it is the television, it is social media, it is the bright lights of restaurants and stores, it is the need to go shopping at the mall to pick somethings up, it is the news, it is our family, our friends, it is our needs, our fears, our concerns. There is always something that says come. It is never ending. Now is a good time to listen to the call of Isaiah to come to God. In the midst of it all God is calling. This morning we heard the church bells calling us to come. Lent is a call to come Worship and songs are a call to come. Come to a place where we will finally be fed and satisfied, where we will have meaning, where we will know true love, where what we gain will be eternal. Where are the places that you can go in your life to find God? The church, the bible, in social settings, in prayer, in nature. God speaks to us in so many ways – This lent we are invited to come - Come to the ways of God. Let us pray……. Prayer Living God, whose son Jesus conquered death and lives forever, giving us cause for hope we hold before you those places and situations in our world which seem lifeless and hopeless. We pray for those who go without or have to pay inflated prices which they can ill afford in order to feed their families. We pray for those in positions of authority and responsibility. We pray for those who feel their voice and plight is ignored by the world. We pray for your church. We pray that you would fill all in our churches with the vision to see where the barren parts of our church and community life might bear fruit. We pray for those who are ill, or recovering from illness. We pray for those who are dying and those caring for them. We pray for those who are living with loss and grief. We pray for ourselves. Living God we pray that you bring life to the areas of our own lives which are lacking life and hope. We bring you our anger and frustrations, we bring you our fears and our lack of courage, we bring you our anxieties and stress. And we ask you to fill us again with your presence, peace and hope that through our prayers and our actions, relying on you to strengthen and encourage us, we might bring your light to a barren world waiting to burst into life. Amen. (Christine Dutton) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Jesus is a master story-teller. Often he spoke in parables, using everyday situations to help those listening comprehend more about God. In Luke 13, Jesus tells of a man with a barren fig tree in his vineyard. That man was annoyed, and eager to get the tree cut down and carted away. However, the one who cared for this tree and the others in the vineyard, pleaded for enough more time and an opportunity to provide manure (“rich dirt” some folks say) for the tree. Do you recognize our church in this parable? Are we a fully fruitful tree, bearing fruit for the world? Or would you see we’re more like this fig-less tree? What about if we each ask the question of our own life? As individual “trees” in Christ’s vineyard, do we – do I – bear fruit? With thanks for the many ways we can be nurtured – and we can nurture – within the life of this congregation. (Name a few specific ways which can be in your own congregation) Let those who are bearing fruit share our morning offering as a symbol of our fruitfulness. And let those who are currently without fruit commit to seeking ways to be made fruitful. For one and for all, may the Master Gardener strengthen each of us for active and fruitful ministries in the days to come. Prayer of Thanksgiving All things come from you, God of all Creation. Please receive these gifts as signs of our desire to be fruitful and productive parts of your created world. Do not cut us down, but offer us opportunities to be proclaimers of life through Jesus, in whose name we pray, AMEN (Center for Faith and Giving) Hymn of Dedication Balm in Gilead UMH 375 Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook I invite you, in the name of Christ, to observe a holy Lent by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by works of love, and by reading and meditating on the Word of God. May the grace, hope, peace and love of God our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer be with you now and always. Amen. (Terri McDowell Ott) Community Time Benediction Turn to the Lord, for God is go Repent of your sins and find God's forgiveness Go forth as new creatures, able to serve and quick to love. (Erik Alsgaard) Choral Response Prelude Children’s Time Eat What Is Good By Lois Parker Edstrom Suggestions: Display various foods as a part of the lesson and allow the children taste, if appropriate to your situation. What are your favorite foods? Pizza? Hamburgers? Ice cream? Chocolate pudding? Cookies? These foods are fun to eat and it’s okay to enjoy them once in a while, but our food choices should also include lots of fruits and vegetables, milk and yogurt, good cereals and breads. Have you ever tried a peanut butter and banana sandwich, sweet potato chips, or a crisp, juicy apple with a wedge of cheese? Delicious!! There are so many tasty foods to enjoy. The prophet, Isaiah in the Bible speaks about God’s message and it is this: “Listen diligently (carefully) to me, and eat… that which is good” (55:2). God is not speaking about food, but about his words of wisdom. As we read the Bible and spend quiet time praying and thinking about God, we learn God’s lessons. We learn about good choices, such as how to honor God, how to respect ourselves, how to treat others with kindness. We learn about things that help us have a good life. God’s ways are good ways. They help you become a loving, thoughtful, and healthy person. God says, “Listen diligently to me, and eat…that which is good…” Eat good food and fill your hearts with the goodness of God’s words. Scripture quotations from the World English Bible Copyright 2012, Richard Niell Donovan Additional Illustrations The Master's Card entitles us to . . . Be wild. Be weird. Be predictably unpredictable. Do not, under any circumstances, be normal. It's the Devil who takes Visa, and shops until the hooves drop. The Master's Card is the only way to fill your spirit with the joy, the abundant life that God has promised. ChristianGlobe Networks, Collected Sermons, by Leonard Sweet